In his Aug. 13 letter, "Let citizens vote on school contracts," Vincent Grosso states that the approval of contracts for school employees should be subject to a popular vote or referendum.

In case Grosso is unaware, school board members are elected by the voters to represent the community to make these decisions. If voters do not like a board's decisions, they are free to vote new board members into office at the next election.

State law also prohibits school board members from voting on anything on which there may be a conflict of interest. Lawyers advise the boards on this issue.

The concept of electing people to represent voters to carry out the functions of government is called "representative democracy." The United States has employed this system since Colonial days. The U.S. Constitution is based on this principle.

What Grosso suggests is not workable or practical in modern society. To make every public policy decision subject to a popular vote would make it impossible for government to function effectively, not to mention invite every conceivable type of fraud and manipulation into the process -- more so than it is already.

I'm not an expert, but I believe that opinions like Grosso's will lead this country on a path toward totalitarianism or anarchy.

We have a system that has worked for 225 years. The dark forces that want to destroy our nation must rejoice when they see how easily people can be turned against the basic beliefs that have served our nation since its beginning.

I urge our state legislators, who are responsible for public education policies, to do what is best for our state and its citizens. I would also suggest that Grosso rethink his position.